Fractionation of hydrocarbon oils and like liquids



May 4 1926. 1,583,340 7 R. H. CROZIER F RACTI ONATION OF HYDRO-CARBON OILS AND LIKE LIQUIDS Filed Jul 7, 1925 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla. 1

QPMLJIW May 4 1926.

R. H. CROZIER FRACTIONATION OF HYDROCARBON OILS AND LIKE LIQUIDS Filed July 7, 1925 Sheets-Sheath, 2

2 k L g Mwwi , dnwwiw 2 .feuzqsfl 63 1 Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES 4 1583,3 40 PATENT OFFICE.

nonnnrnnum' onozrnn, or rlounon. ENGLAND.

' FBAO'IIONATION OF HYDROCA'BZBON OILS AND LIKE LIQUIDS;

Application filed m 7, 1925. Serial m. 41,976.

Ila all whom'it may concern: I, ROBERT HENRY 0110- 2112B, a subject of the King of Great Britain Be it known that and Northern Ireland, and residing at London, England, have invented a'certaln new and useful Improvement in Fractionation of Hydrocarbon Oils and like Liquids, of which .the

following is a specification.

, This invention relates to improvements in and connected with the fractionation of hydrocarbon oils and like liquids.

In accordance with the invention the vapours to be treated and coming from a retort or a still are subjected to temperature control by passing them upward through columns traversed by pipes containing steam or hot fillld. at a desiredtemperatureand then downward through coolingcolumns 1 traversed by pipes containing water or other ensure that the vapours i the collecting boxes so as to cause the vacolumns in which the vapours are pours to bubble through the condensate.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 and Fig. 2

are diagrammatic views at-right' angles to one another "of apparatus in accordance with the invention. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the baflles. Fig. l a diagram illustrative of a convenient arrangement of a series of such fractionating apparatus while. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation at right angles to Fig. 4 showing the connections between the collecting boxes of the series.

In the drawing 1. is a collecting box which may be \heated externally and to which thg vapours from a retort or still (not shown) are supplied by means of a ipe 2 formed at itsoutlet with a serrated e ge 3. This collecting box 1 is in communication with the treated. The columns A through which the vapours pass upwards are heated by means of internal steam coils B. C indicates the columns cooled by water circulated through the internal coils D, down through which columns ,pours past C pass the vapours which have risen throughthe columns A. 1 Condensate deposited in the columns isv collected in condensing or ing boxes or compartments E open to the lower ends of the columns. These compartments are fitted with draw-off cooks e, and are disposed in cascade relation,'so that, if desired, the condensate may cascade from one compartmentto the next, partitions F being fitted in the boxes, have no other path than that through the columns. The coils B for the several columns A are shown as interconnected as are also the coils D for the othercolumns C so.

so that the vapours that the steam or the water will pass from i one heating or cooling column to the others in succession.

.The partitions F- disposedwithin the boxes or compartmentsE' are of suclidepth as to extend below the normal liquid level in such boxes so as to afford a gas seal. while permitting free flow of the condensate from one compartment to another in the event that it is not desired to withdraw the liquid product from any particular compartment. In addition to the partitions F there may be provided baflles G extending just below the liquid level in the respective boxes, the baffles G being each suitably formed with 'aser rated lower edge to permit the vapours to bubble through the condensate. As the volume of gas increases and the liquid level n-m in the boxesis depressed, the serrations 1n the lower edges of the baflles G present a larger area for the gases to bubble through the condensate; For conducting the vaby them a pours from the last column of the series are drawn off through a scrubber in order to remove the light spirit and ammonia present, the remainder of the vapours or gases being used as fuel.

In practice I may employ series of such fractionating condenser units, each associated with a vapour pipe of an oil still or of a retort.

I have illustrated such" an arrangementv in Fig. 4. As shown therein, a series of such units is so arranged that the unvolatilized condensate from the primary collecting box 1 of each unit can flow through the pipe H to the primary collecting box of the next hottest unit in the series-and the lightest the first partition F encountered 'by-pass'K is provided. The va- 7 fractions collected in the cold terminal box through pipes M to the primary collecting box 1 of the preceding unit, wherein the temother, if desired. 7

It will be seen also that the arrangementperature maintained is approximately the boiling point of the condensate in the terminal box L connected thereto.

' If desired, in order to accelerate the volatilization of lighter fractions, steam may be admitted into'any of the collecting boxes at any part or into the box 1, or at any other point before said fractions reach the first separating column. Heat may be applied externally to the box 1 in order to maintain a definite temperature.

It will be seen that by supplying steam of definite or fairly definite temperature to the coils in those columns through which the vapours are led in an upward direction the possibility of low boiling point fractions condensing at parts of the plant where such condensation is not desired is avoided. The

temperature conditions of all the columns can be regulated independently of one anmentioned; columns through which the va-' pours may pass serially downwards, pipes containing cooling medium and travers ng said second-mentioned columns, a connectlo-n between each column of the first series and a column of the second series, means connecting the pipes containing cooling medium serially and means connecting the pipe:

, containing heating medium serially and condensate collecting boxes disposed beneath and open to the lower ends of at least some of said columns.

2. Apparatus for the fractionation of hy- I drocarbon oils and like liquids, including columns for upward passage of the vapours to be treated, heating pipes traversing said columns, columns alternating'with said firstmentioned columns and serving for downward passage of the vapours, cooling pipes traversing said second-mentioned columns, means connecting said heating pipes serially and means connecting said cooling pipes 'serially, condensate collecting boxes disposed beneath and open to the lower ends of at least some of said columns, and partitions in said collecting boxes serving to confine the vapours to flow from one column to the next column.

3. Apparatus for the fractionation of hydrocarbon oils and like liquids, including columns through which the vapours may box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. Apparatus for the fractionation of by drocarbon oils and like liquids, including a plurality of columns. through which the Va pours may pass serially upwards, pipes containing heating medium traversing said columns, a plurality of columns through which the vapours may pass serially downwards,

pipes containing-cooling medium traversing said second-mentioned columns, condensate collecting boxes disposed beneath and open to the lower end of said columns, partitions extending into said collecting boxes and serving to control the flow of the vapours from one column to another, and baflle plates one for each of at least certain of the collecting boxes, said .bafile plates having serrations on their lower edges, the upper edges of said serrations being level with the upper edge of the associated collecting box, substantial-- ly as and for the purpose set forth.

5. Apparatus for the fractionation of hy' drocarbon oils and like liquids, including a series of columns serving for upward passage of vapours, heating coils traversing said columns, a series of columns alternating with said first-mentioned columns and servingfor downward passage of vapours, cooling coils traversing said second-mentioned'columns, a connection between the upper end of each column of the first series and a column of the second series, means connecting said heating coils serially, means connecting said cooling coils serially, and condensate collecting boxes disposed in cascade open to the ends of said columns. I

6. Apparatus for the fractionation of hydrocarbon oils and like liquids including a series of columns for upward passage of vapours, a series of columns alternating with said first-mentioned columns for downward passage of vapours that have passed up- \vardly through said first-mentioned col-' umns, pipes containing heating medium traversing the first series of columns, pipes containing cooling'medium traversing the second series of columns, means connecting the pipes containing heating medium serial] means connecting the pipes containing cool ing medium serially, a row of collectin boxes arranged in cascade disposed beneat and open to the lower ends of said columns, and a hydrocarbon vapour supply connection to the end box of the row.

, i 7. Apparatus for the fractionation I of hydrocarbon oils' ii ndlike liquids including a series of columns for upward passage of vapours,- a series-ofcolumns alternatingwith fsaid first mentioned columns for downward.

h-[jpassage of vapours that have passed up- 'wardly, through said' first-mentioned' columns, pipes containing" heatingmedium.

traversing ,secondseries of columns, means connecting the pipes contalmng heatmg med um serially, means -connectmgthe pipes containing xes arranged in cascade dispose'd'beneath nd open to the'lower ends of said 001:

ms, an outflow' from the.

row? and a hydrocarbon vapour supply connection to the end box of the row, said zq connect'ion extending below the level of the .fjgoutflow in said end box.

8. Apparatus ;'f or the fractidhation; of

;hydrocarbon oils and like liquids including I "a series ofcolumns for upward passage or vapours, a series-of columns alternatmg with the first series of columns, pipes 10 containing cooling-"medium traversing the:

pooling medium serially, a row of collecting end box of the boxes arranged in cascade disposed beneath and open to the lower ends of said columns,

amoutflow for theend box of the row, and ahydrocarbon-vapour supply connection to the end box of the row, said connection extending just below the level of the outflow in said end box and having a, serrated lower 9. A'ppumtus' for; the fractionation "of hydrocarbon oils and-lfkefliqiiids including a series of fractionating condenser-units,'. j

each unit comprising a plurality of heated' columnstand a plurality of cooled columns alternating therewith through 'which va pours may be passed serially, and collecting boxes beneath the columns in 'each' unitto receive separately condensates of different boiling points, said boxes including a, primary collecting box which serves to re- ,ceive the material to be fractionated and a terminal box. to receive the condensate of lowest boiling point, pipe connections between the terminal boxes and primary boxes of difl'erentunits for leading condensate from the'termina'l boxes to the connected primary boxes, and connections for leading the residues in'each' primary box to another primary box.

game to this specific: Zion.

' R. H; CROZI'ERQ v on In testimony whereof I have signed my 

